~ F & M ~
NO GOODS!
The excellent piece below was posted on the Lancaster Online Talkback forum under yesterday’s New Era article, “”F&M withdraws trespass charges” (click here). Regarding the poster’s three points about F&M’s letter, I have added my comments immediately below each one.
******
Charges dropped. Why would you drop the charges if you had the goods? Where is the video? Where is the witness, the mystery yet-to-be-named female F&M employee? Who is back peddling now? Is Fry hoping that by shoving his rail yard proposal down resident's throats that we will forget about his abusive personal militia? Any chance these same "technical issues" will result in a "quiet" settlement to the lawsuits that are coming? Those darn technicalities!
After reading the letter let me add:
1) I see that “Downtown Dulcey” has been removed from the case and Nancy Collins has taken over…maybe not a good idea to throw the fresh fish to the Ron Harper’s of the world?
[“Downtown Dulcey” (Dulcey Antonucci) has lost all credibility. Remember she was quoted in the Intell saying, “Fry and his wife ‘were concerned for the safety of their three young children.’” The oldest daughter is 17 and could be walking around F&M’s campus as a college student. The next daughter is 13. That is not in anyone’s definition of “young child.” Only their seven-year-old son qualifies for that definition.]
2) F&M is now willing to set the record straight? Why not give that same answer 3 weeks ago? It still did not come directly from Fry so why didn’t they humor Harper with that previously?
[I assume you are referring to this from her letter, “John Fry never contacted the district attorney to influence the prosecution of the Franklin & Marshall students, as you wrote. This was a false accusation.” That’s nice, Nancy. Are you telling the truth? Then why didn’t John Fry tell that to Ron Harper, Jr. when Harper contacted him? And I’m sure John Fry was too busy working on moving the rail yard to contact the district attorney personally. Maybe he had Keith Orris contact the district attorney or maybe the basketball coach or maybe…]
3) Do I understand that Ms. Collins, while still telling Harper he is not allowed to walk on this college campus, can contact her anytime for whatever information that he wants?
[Hilarious, sad, stupid, ironic and simply unbelievable.]
*******
Please check back tomorrow for more on this, F&M’s rail yard proposal and this post by a Talkbacker who apparently is hung up on this long ago “incident” and constantly repeats it (and, no, I don’t recall it):
I hope another police officer from the city doesn't get hung out to dry when he tries to enforce the "no left turn" signs in front of Evergreen Estates. You all may recall when a black woman made an illegal turn down there and then accused the white officer of racism. Smithgall went along with the woman's story and the officer was suspended.
Oh, and Talkback moderators – if there are any – get Steve Markle, aka The_Crow and now “KungFuPanda” off your forum. He is a serious and serial cyber harasser and stalker. Just ask some of your forum members...
~ John A. Fry ~
YOU GOTTA DO MORE!
You forgot the apology, John A. Fry. What about the false arrest? What about your security forces body slamming Ron Harper, Jr. into the ground by his face? What about his medical bills? What about holding him for two hours in one of your “holding cells?” What about stealing his newspaper box and holding it for four days?
My guess is that your apology will come in the form of very hefty monetary payments to Ron Harper, Jr. and Chris Hart Nibbrig. It’s a good thing F&M has $400 million in the bank, John.
To read F&M’s very disturbing letter withdrawing their two citations against Ron Harper, Jr., click here.
PIDGEON POOP!
“For Pidgeon – uninteresting, smirking, rude, dim, weak and unprincipled – to draw a point-by-point attention to his obvious-to-the-rest of us shortcomings is truly journalism at the next level.”
From the “Puff Piece of the Week” in this week’s Lancaster Post about Intell columnist Dave Pidgeon.
What a hoot and my, oh my, how true! That was one of the most ridiculous columns – and that’s saying a lot – I have ever read by Pidgeon.
I’m off to read what looks to be a very good new issue of the Lancaster Post. If you care to join me, click here.
Please check back tomorrow…
*** BREAKING NEWS ***
F&M WITHDRAWS CITATIONS
“Franklin & Marshall College has withdrawn the citations issued to you on June 3, 2008.”
This is the opening sentence of a letter emailed from Nancy Collins of F&M to Ron Harper, Jr. today. Please check back later today!
Unless F&M can produce credible evidence of trespassing, the college should withdraw the charges, apologize and learn a valuable lesson: You can win a battle and lose a war.
June 8, 2008 Sunday News editorial, “Taking the bait.”
Please check back later today…
~ Ron & Chris Can Go! ~
*** BREAKING NEWS ***
“Under criminal trespass law, this is an event that is open to the public and I believe Chris Hart Nibbrig can attend the event. It would be very difficult for F&M to establish a violation of the law under these circumstances,” Len Brown of the law firm of Clymer & Musser P.C. said by phone this afternoon.
This of course is regarding the public meeting tonight at F&M about moving the Dillerville rail yard and F&M’s “banishment” of Chris Hart Nibbrig, co-publisher of the Lancaster Post, from their property. Brown continued to say this would apply to any person, including obviously, Ron Harper, Jr. He also said this would apply at all times to public areas owned by F&M, such as the Iron Hill Brewery and other properties, where the public is invited.
There will be much more on this tomorrow…
~ Who Will Keep Us Posted? ~
RAILROADED!
Relocate the Dillerville rail yard or relocate F&M President John A. Fry? Which would be better for Lancaster?
Hopefully, that is a question that will be answered at tonight’s public meeting held by F&M from 6:30 to 9:30 at the College Alumni Sports & Fitness Center, 929 Harrisburg Ave in Lancaster.
Ron Harper, Jr. - will you be covering this for the Lancaster Post? Chris Hart Nibbrig – will you be covering this for the Lancaster Post?
Please check back later today…
COLD BLOOD
In another journal entry, Kreider chillingly writes, "Never once did I believe killing a man is wrong. No, no killing out of cold blood is wrong."
Today’s New Era story, “Portrait of a young killer,” (click here).
This directly contradicts everything we’ve been told over the last two days about Alec Kreider and his horrendous crime. He just wanted to kill. He may have picked the Haines because he knew they didn’t lock their door.
There was a motive. There was a reason. This was not random.
This email in:
An 8" knife.
It was personal.
Wanted to shut-up Kevin and mom.
Focused on the face, neck area. What did they know that Alec didn't want told?
He focused on Kevin.... 11 stabs, ripped out throat.
Messed up mother's face too.
Very personal when you focus on the face, neck.
There was a motive. There was a reason. This was not random. These were calculated and very, very personal murders.
JUST THE FACTS!
"The family and the community deserves an explanation."
Lancaster County Court Judge David Ashworth addressing Alec Kreider yesterday during his sentencing.
Justin Quinn of the LNP was covering my brother's trial at the Lancaster County courthouse, and his article in the paper was so slanted and sensationlized, it did not resemble the truth. I sat near him and witnessed every bit of testimony he did, and was shocked at his spin on the story. I came on here to slam him, and I slammed him good. He created an anonymous account on TB, and defended the story vigorously. His rebuttal instantly revealed to me who he was, acting as an outside observer in this argument. I called him on it, outted him, and that week he was fired.
Apparently, LNP has a stern rule against one of their reporters writing under a pseudonym, defending one's own work.
That trial, and the one after it, plus LNP's blatantly false coverage of the pair from the likes of Justin Quinn and his buddy Brett Lovelace, forced me to join TB some time ago.
Micah Stewart’s half-brother posting on the Lancaster Online Talkback forum yesterday.
I called Gil a jerk one day in a weaker moment and the post disappeared.
Posted yesterday on the Talkback forum about posts being deleted by Gil Smart under his blog.
Me too - called him the 'king of cut-and-paste' back when he started his blog and got cut - I regret saying that, but have since learned it is standard protocol....
Another poster’s response about Smart and his blog.
Please check back later today…
~ And Gil Smart! ~
JOURNALISM 101
This email in last evening in response to yesterday’s column. I don’t agree with the assessment of Rutter, but everything about Gil Smart’s “article” is dead on. I can’t imagine his opening “sentences” making a front page story in any other Sunday newspaper in the country (and, no – I’m not overstating it). Thank you for writing and click here for the link to Smart’s story.
****
Dear Becky:
Jon Rutter is the best writer and reporter at the Sunday News now. Just because his play on words isn't the best to come down the pike, it doesn't warrant an attack. There are so many more serious problems with the newspaper that should be addressed, although I grant you there is probably no point to even waste key strokes on it. One point to consider is that Rutter wrote a news feature, and with a feature, there is more leeway.
But a recent story by Gil Smart on the missing Lancaster Post newspaper box is one that I found disturbingly unedited and poorly reported.
Start with the terrible lead. Journalism 101 will explain why this is bad.
"The missing box showed up Friday, delivered to the Clymer & Musser law offices downtown."
Then look at the next line. This is not his blog. It is supposed to be a news story, not a news feature, even.
"Franklin & Marshall College security forces, it seems, had the red newspaper box since Monday, but held onto it for four days."
It seems? This is not an opinion piece. Just say that F&M reported that it had the box, which is what happened, and report how long the college said it kept the box.
Next sentence:
"Perhaps they weren't sure who owned it."
Snide comments have no place in a news story. Trying to make F&M security look stupid is not news reporting.
The next line is a sentence fragment that should be part of the sentence before it, not dangling there on its own.
"Even though it had the Lancaster Post's newspaper logo on top."
That isn't the only problem with it. That is the grammatical error.
From all that has been reported, my understanding is that there is no marking on the red boxes to indicate they belong to the Lancaster Post.
So even worse is the factual error.
All of this is before the story is barely underway.
Then Smart goes on to say that Harper said he was beaten up.
Since I didn't hear Smart's phone interview with Harper, I can't say for sure that Harper didn't say he was beaten up by the security force, but in everything else I have read, it is reported that the officers threw him to the ground to arrest him.
That is quite different than getting beaten up.
If Harper did use the words beaten up, then the next sentence should have clarified what actually happened.
I just don't like to see a good reporter like Jon Rutter getting nitpicked over a play on words, when so many serious reporting problems plague the newspaper.
Thanks for reading, if you even got this far.
“KungFuPanda” Markle?
Yes, there are suckers – and crows - born every minute.
And click here for “F&M: Stop Hiding From the Media!” Way to go NewsLanc!
Please check back later today…
~ And Tea, Moleskins & Class Acts! ~
POST THIS!
Ron Harper, Jr. said by telephone today that Turkey Hill was being paid by the Lancaster Post to distribute the paper there (see “HANG IN THERE” below on this site). So, while the paper is free, Turkey Hill was making money off their distribution of the paper. And Harper said today he absolutely believes Turkey Hill was pressured.
He is working on other distribution means and reports that everywhere he goes people are supportive of the paper. He said that over 100,000 people to date have downloaded at least one issue of the paper from their website. He said this past Sunday morning over 2,000 people downloaded the most recent edition. Those are impressive numbers and indicative of how much the citizens of Lancaster County want an alternative news source.
BLUSH!
This is not to make a mountain out of a moleskin.
I posted this sentence Sunday morning from a front page Sunday News story on bicyclists and asked, “Is there an editor in the house.” A Talkbacker posted this is actually a play on words:
Moleskin is the an adhesive thing that people put over vulnerable parts of their skin to prevent abrasions or blisters or stuff like that on their feet etc.
I still ask: is there an editor in the house? This is a far-fetched, oblique and stupid play on words. It has no business being in a front page “news” article. Oh, and ahem, moleskin has another definition according to Wikipedia – but blush! – I’ll let you read about it for yourselves (click here).
DON’T DRINK THE TEA!
Ice tea is derived by passing hot water through tea bags and then allowing it to chill and then serving over ice. Some add lemon, some do not. Some add sweetener, some do not. I don't know what they put in those bottles labeled ice tea at Turkey Hill but it is ANYTHING but...caveat emptor!
Compared to a Turkey Hill store, a Sheetz looks like a Saks Fifth Avenue!
Posted on the Talkback forum under a thread about Turkey Hill dropping the Post.
I won’t drink it, that’s for sure. And an old rumor – is it just a rumor? – that Turkey Hill ice tea causes kidney stones was raised on the forum again. I’m not a doctor and I don’t play one on the internet - and I’m not touching this one!
CLASS ACTS!
Some of you are wondering what I thought about the Sunday News article on the Talkback forum. After all, I am the acknowledged expert and have been covering it for almost four years! Oh, that is coming.
Today, however, I wanted to publish two comments that were posted on the forum. “Gentlemen,” I would duck for cover and go into hiding:
Oh, and Becky, we won't be asking for donations so just keep sucking real hard on Ron's...... circumstances. Luv yuh.
And:
I hope this doesn't mean I'll have to deal with Harper and his daughters shoving Posts in my face at Market again. It's rather unappealing on a Saturday morning.
Class acts! I’m sharpening my pencil…
DOES TURKEY HILL ICE TEA CAUSE KIDNEY STONES?
DOES DAVE PIDGEON HAVE A BRAIN?
WHAT IS “MOLESKIN?”
Please check back later today…
~ Ron & Chris! ~
HANG IN THERE!
We don't know - they didn't/wouldn't tell us.
When Peggy was on the front we were told, "We do business with them."
An email response I received this morning from Ron Harper, Jr., co-publisher of the Lancaster Post, in response to my question, “What happened with Turkey Hill?”
I learned last evening that this is the last week the Lancaster Post would be available in Turkey Hill Minit Markets. I am not surprised – but I am sorely disappointed and will try to get an official reason from their corporate office tomorrow.
Why am I not surprised? Because I know this - never underestimate the power of the Lancaster Newspapers. Never.
When I was the editor of the paper version of the Lancaster Independent Press almost 30 years ago, we received a call from a Perdue chicken representative. It was a relatively new brand and they wanted to come and give us a presentation - and free chicken! I said, “Yes!” He called the next day to cancel. He had called the Lancaster Newspapers and they told him they would only meet with him/do a story if they had an “exclusive.” By now the man had obviously compared the size of the Lancaster Newspapers with LIP and his choice was obvious.
I wrote a front page story about it. It was somewhat tongue in cheek because our calendar editor, M.R. Carey, was a strict vegetarian and we more than likely wouldn’t have done a story – but we (some of us, anyway) wanted the free chicken!
We ran into things like this all the time. We were told by some potential advertisers that if they advertised in LIP, the Lancaster Newspapers told them they would not accept their advertising. Imagine having that kind of power and newspapers using it so corruptly.
And I don’t believe for a minute that things have changed in those 30 years. Did the Lancaster Newspapers pressure Turkey Hill?
There will be more on this situation tomorrow. In the meantime, please hang in there Ron Harper, Jr. and Chris Hart Nibbrig. Lancaster needs you. And to readers of the paper: please mention how much you enjoy the Post to the Turkey Hill clerks and please support their advertisers.
Click here for the Lancaster Post website.
HILLS?
This is not to make a mountain out of a moleskin.
Jon Rutter in today’s front page Sunday News article, “Pedal-pushers push luck,” (click here).
Is there an editor in the house? Unbelievable!
And Turkey Hill gives the Lancaster Post the boot.
Please check back later today…
HIGHLY
INAPPROPRIATE!
The letter below is from John O. Shirk of the law firm of Barley Snyder LLC to Leonard G. Brown, III of Clymer & Musser P.C. and is published in this week’s edition of the Lancaster Post (click here). How much do you think F&M paid this idiot to write this letter?
*******
June 5, 2008
Dear Mr. Brown:
Maureen Kelly, Director of Public Safety at Franklin & Marshall, learned today that a College public safety officer recovered a red newspaper box in the early morning of June 2. We surmise that this box is the Lancaster Post box placed on the south side of Marietta Avenue that your client has reported as being missing.
The box was found at approximately 5 a.m. on June 2 lying face down in School Lane north of Marietta Avenue. The officer took the box to the College Department of Public Safety office for safekeeping and placed it in a storage area. The officer who recovered the box has no information on how it got to where he found it. The recovery of the box for safety and safekeeping and the subsequent processing and identification of the box as your client’s property, was entirely in the normal course of public safety operations: it would be highly inappropriate for anyone to speculate otherwise.
Although there is apparently no identification of the owner on the box itself, the inside newspaper display contains a single copy (or front page) with a Lancaster Post masthead. Accordingly, we conclude that it is your client’s property. The box will be delivered by the College tomorrow.
Sincerely yours,
John O. Shirk
IMAGINE!
Also imagine if John Fry had delivered his "ban" to Harper's office, in person -- Harper sees him coming and calls his private security guys who ROUGH UP JOHN FRY. It is the strong arm tactics, the over-reaction, the whiff of vendetta here that is so troubling.
Posted on the Lancaster Online Talkback forum under a thread about the incident.
RUMORS?
About two weeks ago a worker at the Lancaster Convention Center fell while working late at night. The Fire Department had to Rescue the person. At the time no name of either the employee or the company was being released to the press. Any chance you could find out some info. There are some rumors floating around that not all the workers working on the Convention Center are US citizens????
Keep up the great reporting.
Thank You for any info you can find.
An email I received last week.
If anyone knows anything about this situation, please contact me.
Please check back tomorrow…
